Molecular Biology of Placental Development and Disease

Chapter One: Comparative Placental Anatomy: Divergent Structures Serving a Common Purpose

• Abstract
• The Placenta
• 1 Fetal Membranes
• 2 Classification of Placentae
• 3 Placenta of Humans
• 4 Placenta of Rodents
• 5 Placenta of Carnivores
• 6 Placenta of Ruminants
• 7 Placenta of the Horse
• 8 Placenta of the Pig
• 9 Placental Vasculature
• 10 Summary

Chapter Two: Cell- and Tissue-Based Models for Study of Placental Development

• Abstract
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Simplified ex vivo Models
• 3 Conclusions and Future Prospects

Chapter Three: Transcription Factors That Regulate Trophoblast Development and Function

• Abstract
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Transcription Factors Implicated in Trophoblast Development
• 3 Conclusions
• Acknowledgments

Chapter Four: The Phylogeny of Placental Evolution Through Dynamic Integrations of Retrotransposons

• Abstract
• 1 Placenta: Structural Diversity
• 2 Placenta ERVs
• 3 Hypothesis of Gene Evolution Through Baton Pass
• 4 Concluding Remarks

Chapter Five: Contribution of Syncytins and Other Endogenous Retroviral Envelopes to Human Placenta Pathologies

• Abstract
• 1 Introduction
• 2 So Many Human Endogenous Retroviral Loci, so Few Genes Encoding Envelopes
• 3 Syncytin-1
• 4 Deregulation of Syncytin-1 in Human Placenta Pathologies
• 5 Conclusion
• Acknowledgment

Chapter Six: Role of Exosomes in Placental Homeostasis and Pregnancy Disorders

• Abstract
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Influence of Oxygen Tension on Placental Exosomes Release and Content
• 3 Effects of Placental Exosomes on Target Cells
• 4 Circulating Exosomes Across Normal Gestation
• 5 Exosomal Profile in GDM Pregnancies
• 6 Exosomal Profile in PE
• 7 Conclusions and Perspectives

Chapter Seven: Novel Regulators of Hemodynamics in the Pregnant Uterus

• Abstract
• 1 Introduction
• 2 An Overview of Vascular Remodeling During Pregnancy
• 3 Regulators of Uterine Hemodynamics
• 4 Uterine Hemoglobin Biosynthesis During Gestation
• 5 Concluding Remarks
• Acknowledgments

Chapter Eight: Regulation of Placental Amino Acid Transport and Fetal Growth

• Abstract
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Placental Amino Acid Transport and Fetal Growth
• 3 Physiological Regulators of Placental Amino Acid Transport
• 4 Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Regulation of Placental Amino Acid Transport
• 5 Conclusions and Translational Perspectives